Padres Insider: Byrnes seeks starting pitching at Winter Meetings

Don’t expect the Padres to make a blockbuster trade during baseball’s annual Winter Meetings, which open a four-day run Monday at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn.

“I expect to do one thing, maybe two at the Winter Meetings,” Padres general manager Josh Byrnes said this week. “I’m not expecting to do a lot. There’s not going to be the magnitude of the moves we made last off-season this year. We’re filling the holes, not roster reshaping.

“I don’t see a Latos-type deal.”

Byrnes was speaking of the four-for-one trade the Padres made last season that netted the Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso, catcher Yasmani Grandal, starting pitcher Edinson Volquez and reliever Brad Boxberger from Cincinnati in exchange for starting pitcher Mat Latos.

It is clear what Byrnes is shopping for – starting pitching.

He would like to add two starting pitchers to the Padres cast of potential starters. And he’s thinking more in terms of trading for rotation depth than seeking it via free agency. And given the Padres already lengthy list of injured and rehabbing starting pitchers, he’d prefer to add a pitcher with a history of durability over one that has a checkered medical past.

Which is why a name like Ubaldo Jimenez is likely more prominent on Byrnes’ wish list than those of Dan Haren and Daisuke Matsuzaka.

“It might not be the time to take a flyer on a health risk,” said Byrnes. “We already have a lot of guys who are questions because of injuries. We think in another year, we’re going to have solid depth in starting pitching. Right now, we could use a durable starter who we can count on.

“Clearly, trades make more sense for what we’re trying to do. The free agent market prices are higher than they should be. We’ve spent more time discussing trades than free agents.”

Acquiring Jimenez would take a trade with Cleveland. And the Indians seem ready to discuss a trade involving Jimenez. But what would it take? And what are the Padres offering?

The Padres have depth at the corner outfield slots, in the bullpen and at middle infield. The names most often mentioned as possible trade chips are relief pitchers Luke Gregerson and Joe Thatcher and outfielder-first baseman Jesus Guzman.

Setup man Gregerson and left-handed specialist Thatcher are two key members of the Padres bullpen. But both are arbitration eligible and the Padres have alternate candidate at both slots. Some teams, particularly in the American League, like Guzman for his prowess against left-handed pitching as a platoon player or designated hitter. The Padres believe Kyle Blanks and James Darnell, who also have health issues, could cover the loss of Guzman.

The Padres also have some attractive prospects. But Byrnes is hesitant to start trading from a talented but still shallow farm system.

The Padres are still interested in signing Tim Stauffer and Dustin Moseley to minor league contracts, although both made only one start for the Padres last season before having surgery.

Another member of the 2012 corps of starters who interests the Padres is Jason Marquis, who is a free agent. “He’s on the radar,” said Byrnes. “The more we looked around, he’s a guy we’re talking about.”